Source: FlyNews - Aerospace and Defense Information in English
The program, which is part of the Civil UAVs Initiative, aims to promote innovative solutions based on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to improve the provision of public services. The Tecnobit-Aertec joint venture is currently in the middle of the implementation phase of a new UAS development center, as well as an integration line for an innovative UAS concept, with hybrid configuration and propulsion. The supply chain of this assembly line will be mainly Galician, explain both companies, creating a new productive environment in the area. A Center of Excellence in aerospace technologies and SW will also be created.
In this new call, eight projects have been selected, ranging from the development of innovative electrified aerial platforms to observation instrumentation and artificial intelligence, including the development of advanced communications solutions in maritime environments or for firefighting.
The projects will be carried out using key infrastructures provided by the Xunta de Galicia, such as the Rozas aerodrome and the CIAR mixed center, thus providing an ideal environment for testing and trials. In addition, the Xunta will contribute to the projects with financial and administrative resources to facilitate the necessary research and testing.
It is estimated that thanks to these projects up to 51 new direct jobs linked to the aerospace industry and around 540 indirect jobs will be created in the region until 2028, since the joint venture formed by Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía and AERTEC will maintain the employment commitment with the contracted personnel and will incorporate them into subsequent programs such as FCAS, EUROMALE, SIRTAP and EDF, which guarantees years of work and demand for Capabilities.
The program includes collaboration with several research groups from the Universities of Vigo, A Coruña and Santiago, as well as with several Galician technology centers.
Since the creation of the Aerospace Pole of Galicia in 2015, Galicia has become a pioneer region in the development of the aerospace industry, especially in the development of UAV,s and U-Space. Grupo Oesía inaugurated last year a new headquarters in the Zona Franca of Vigo. This center has 40 professionals dedicated mainly to the development of one of the great defense projects of the European Union, the future European drone Euromale. It also has the offices of its brand Inster-Grupo Oesía, in Pontevedra, for satellite communications projects.
AERTEC, in turn, has created a work center in Lugo, where the Rozas aerodrome and the mixed CIAR center are located, with offices for technological development and aerospace engineering. Several professionals have already been incorporated in this center and, according to a community statement, it will continue to grow in capacity as the project progresses.